Bellator 70: What to Watch For

Through 10 events thus far, the Chicago-based promotion has
produced more than a few memorable moments -- par for the course
for Bellator. After all, who could forget Thiago
Santos’ inability to make weight for his rematch with Eric
Prindle in the Season 5 heavyweight tournament final after his
toe-punt to the American’s groin last fall resulted in a no
contest?

Indeed, Bellator’s sixth season has been a fun ride, and
Bellator 70 on Friday at the New Orleans Convention Center
should provide a solid bookend to an entertaining string of events.
Here is what to watch for during Bellator’s season finale on MTV2,
best enjoyed while listening to Vitamin C’s “Graduation.”

‘The Polar Bear’ Awakens from Hibernation

Bellator’s best heavyweight has not seen action since August, when
he outpointed former
UFC title contender Paul
Buentello in a non-title bout at Bellator 48. Now, he will have
to shake off the ring rust and defend his heavyweight championship
against the heavy-handed Prindle.

While “The Polar Bear” has worked diligently to improve his
striking, Konrad’s bread-and-butter will always be his wrestling. A
two-time NCAA champion at the University of Minnesota, Konrad has
used his potent takedowns and top control to go undefeated through
10 professional contests.

As he has done for the majority of his time in the cage, Konrad
should plant Prindle on his posterior and keep him there to ensure
victory. Will Konrad use his grappling superiority to overwhelm his
hard-hitting foe, or will his strides in the standup game cause him
to play dangerously in Prindle’s punching range?

Prindle’s Power

No one needs to tell you Prindle is a sizable underdog in this main
event.

Most believe his only hope to win is to land one of those
sledgehammer shots on Konrad’s chin -- a daunting prospect
considering the champion’s dedication to improving his standing
skills. Though Prindle has displayed a surprising ability to
scramble when needed during his Bellator career, this will likely
not be the case against a wrestler as decorated as Konrad. The
smart money says that each time Prindle’s back hits the mat, a
little wind will be taken from his sails.

Still, Prindle should not be counted out. As has been said many
times before, a puncher always has a chance. It also bears
mentioning that this is a five-round title fight, meaning Prindle
has 25 minutes, not the usual 15, to land that one solid shot.

Final Fight

Keith
Mills

Hawn has savaged his Season 6 foes.

Too often in mixed martial arts, dropping a weight class is viewed
as type of “fix all” for a struggling fighter, only to find that
the weight division was not the problem. This is not the case for
lightweight tournament finalists Rick Hawn and
Brent
Weedman.

Formerly competing at welterweight, both men decided to shed an
additional 15 pounds and make a run at lightweight in Season 6. The
move paid off, as they have looked razor-sharp on their respective
paths to the tournament final.

A former Olympic judoka, Hawn has primarily used his fists -- not
his grappling -- to advance in the Season 6 draw, knocking out
Ricardo
Tirloni and Woodard in impressive fashion. It has become clear
that 155 pounds is the ideal destination for the 35-year-old, who
appears to now be one of Bellator’s stronger competitors at
lightweight. Likewise, Weedman impressed in the quarterfinal and
semifinal rounds, quickly submitting J.J. Ambrose
before taking a split decision from skilled striker Thiago
Michel Pereira Silva last month.

Which former welterweight will stake his claim as No. 1 contender
for Michael
Chandler’s 155-pound title?

‘Concrete’ vs. ‘Iron’

K.
Mills

‘Betao’ has been rock solid indeed.

Bellator’s most recent bantamweight tournament may not be decided
within the confines of Season 6, but that does not mean Hiroshi
Nakamura and Luis Nogueira will not put on a show in their
semifinal collision.

An interesting factor in this bout is that neither man really set
the bar high in the quarterfinals. ‘Betao’ edged Alexis Vila
in a ho-hum standup affair, while “Iron” held Rodrigo
Lima on his back for much of their quarterfinal clash.

Odds are Nakamura will find that “Betao” is not nearly as easy to
hold down as “Ratinho.” In that same vein, Nogueira cannot simply
rely on his standup in this contest, as Nakamura will almost
certainly keep him guessing as to whether a punch or a takedown
will come next.

Will the Brazilian prove more effective with his strikes or can
Nakamura smother Nogueira and ride out another decision victory to
earn his spot in the final alongside Marcos
Galvao?